Decarbonising the iron and steel sector for a 2 °C target using inherent waste streams

Yongqi Sun, Sicong Tian, Philippe Ciais, Zhenzhong Zeng (), Jing Meng () and Zuotai Zhang ()
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Yongqi Sun: Southern University of Science and Technology
Sicong Tian: The University of Queensland
Philippe Ciais: Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement, UMR 1572 CEA-CNRS UVSQ
Zhenzhong Zeng: Southern University of Science and Technology
Jing Meng: University College London
Zuotai Zhang: Southern University of Science and Technology

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract The decarbonisation of the iron and steel industry, contributing approximately 8% of current global anthropogenic CO2 emissions, is challenged by the persistently growing global steel demand and limitations of techno-economically feasible options for low-carbon steelmaking. Here we explore the inherent potential of recovering energy and re-using materials from waste streams, high-temperature slag, and re-investing the revenues for carbon capture and storage. In a pathway based on energy recovery and resource recycling of glassy blast furnace slag and crystalline steel slag, we show that a reduction of 28.5 ± 5.7% CO2 emissions to the sectoral 2 °C target requirements in the iron and steel industry could be realized in 2050 under strong decarbonization policy consistent with low warming targets. The technological schemes applied to engineer this high-potential pathway could generate a revenue of US$35 ± 16 and US$40 ± 18 billion globally in 2035 and 2050, respectively. If this revenue is used for carbon capture and storage implementation, equivalent CO2 emission to the 2 °C sectoral target requirements is expected to be reduced before 2050, without any external investments.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27770-y

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